Meadow Farm House in California by William McDonough + Partners

Article source: William McDonough + Partners

The site design of this small organic farm and residence transitions from a cultivated landscape of orchards, gardens, and farming towards a restored native ecology of meadow grasses and coastal live oaks. The interwoven site and architectural design celebrate the native Northern California landscape and a deep connection to place. The main house is a series of pavilions with rolling zinc roofs that echo waves and wind patterns coming off the ocean, just visible from the property. Striated color patterns in rammed earth walls extrapolate the gentle curve of existing site topography. The building is passively heated and cooled, and energy uses are supported almost entirely by on site harvesting (PVs). The farm includes comprehensive rainwater and graywater harvesting. The project is LEED Platinum certified.

Image Courtesy © Emily Hagopian

• Architects: William McDonough + Partners
• Project: Meadow Farm House
• Location: California, USA
  
• Photography: Emily Hagopian
• Landscape Architect: Bernard Trainor + Associates
• Interior Design: Carla Carstens
• Area: 5,800 sq ft

Image Courtesy © Emily Hagopian

ORGANIC FARMING & RESTORATIVE ECOLOGY

The site transitions from vegetable gardens and a restored olive orchard to native meadows that merge with adjacent public parkland.

Image Courtesy © Emily Hagopian

Image Courtesy © Emily Hagopian

ANTICIPATORY DESIGN

Buildings are composed of multiple pavilions which can be re purposed for alternate future use as additional housing, classrooms, nature center, community farm, etc.

Image Courtesy © Emily Hagopian

Image Courtesy © Emily Hagopian

PASSIVE ORIENTATION

Building orientation and roof profiles optimize daylighting, solar shading, natural ventilation and rooftop solar power harvesting. Thermal mass is employed to enhance passive heating, and no mechanical cooling is necessary.

Image Courtesy © Emily Hagopian

Image Courtesy © Emily Hagopian

RENEWABLE ENERGY

A large amount of integrated photovoltaic panels provide electrical power to the home and farm. Evacuated tube solar thermal provides all domestic hot water, space and pool heating.

Image Courtesy © Emily Hagopian

Image Courtesy © Emily Hagopian

CLEAN WATER

Comprehensive rainwater harvesting supplies site irrigation, toilets and laundry. Waste water is cleansed and released via bio-filtration swales. Buildings are plumbed for future transition to graywater reuse.

Image Courtesy © Emily Hagopian

Image Courtesy © Emily Hagopian

MATERIALS

Emphasis on the use of regionally manufactured and harvested materials, such as rammed earth, Carmel stone, reclaimed redwood, FSC certified Douglas fir and ceramic tile. Materials and finishes are non-toxic, with preference for those in safe, closed loop manufacture and reuse cycles.

Image Courtesy © Emily Hagopian

Image Courtesy © Emily Hagopian

Image Courtesy © Emily Hagopian

Image Courtesy © Emily Hagopian

Image Courtesy © Emily Hagopian

Image Courtesy © William McDonough + Partners

Image Courtesy © William McDonough + Partners

Image Courtesy © William McDonough + Partners

Image Courtesy © William McDonough + Partners

Tags: California, USA

Categories: Farm House, Residential

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